Overview:
Palau has concluded a series of Community Visioning Workshops under the Green Climate Fund Readiness project, gathering local perspectives across all 16 states to shape future climate resilience and food security initiatives.
KOROR, Palau — 4 November 2026 — Community participants from across Palau’s 16 states completed a series of four Community Visioning Workshops on Thursday, 29 October 2026, identifying priorities for a climate-resilient future and bringing local voices into the early stages of climate project planning.
The workshops form part of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness project, “Developing an enabling environment for low emission and climate smart and resilient agriculture in Palau.” The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) serves as the delivery partner, working with Palau’s Office of Climate Change, which serves as the National Designated Authority for the GCF, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment (MAFE) as the national executing agency.
Through its Readiness support, the GCF is helping strengthen the skills, policies, information and cooperation needed to develop climate solutions and access climate financing. The community visioning process provides an opportunity for participants to share their lived experiences, traditional knowledge and aspirations while project priorities are still taking shape. The project places community knowledge and priorities at the center of planning for more resilient agriculture and food systems.
Throughout the four workshops that started in September, participants considered what matters most for Palau’s future, the changes affecting their communities, and the actions needed to achieve their vision for 2050. Discussions explored connections between food and agriculture, water security, the environment, health and well-being, energy, governance, and economic opportunities.
Building on earlier discussions, participants refined key action areas, identified priority measures, and discussed indicators for tracking progress. They also identified potential lead agencies, partners and community responsibilities to help turn their vision into practical action.
This process is intended to translate the priorities expressed by communities into project ideas suitable for climate financing, while keeping their knowledge and needs central to the design. Related priorities may contribute to one coherent project, while other promising ideas can be retained to inform future concept notes. In this way, the workshops are intended to give local voices a continuing influence beyond the visioning process itself.
“The communities have spoken, and we are ready to move forward. We have shared our vision, identified priorities, and we are committed to supporting solutions that will strengthen our food systems, water security, environment, and livelihoods. We now look forward to seeing these ideas carried forward into government planning and future climate investments so that together we can build a more resilient Palau for future generations,” said a workshop participant
The community priorities identified through the workshops will help inform future GCF concept notes and climate financing proposals. Further project development training, technical assessment and consultation will build on these results, keeping community knowledge, needs and aspirations central to the climate solutions proposed for Palau.
Workshop Participants & Represented Entities
The Community Visioning Workshops brought together key representatives across Palau, including:
| Participant | Entity | Participant | Entity |
| Andrew Rengechel | Angaur State | Ltelakt Fritz | Palau Chamber of Commerce / POGA / FPC |
| Charlene Mersai | Office of Climate Change | Marcia Inacio | Ngiwal |
| Collin Joseph | Melekeok State | Mary Frances Ilolang Remengesau-Vogt | Ngeremlengui State (Governor) |
| Cory Ramarui | Debedebokel NGO, Ngchesar State | Melanie Blelai Islam | Peleliu State |
| Debora Isaac | Bungelkelau Women Club, Ngchesar | Mesiwal Madlukt | Ngeremlengui |
| Diramei Inawo | Kayangel State | Michael Kyota | Ngatpang State |
| Donna JM Titiml | Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) | Mirang Subediang | Volunteer |
| Doreen Ongelungel | Aimeliik | Mycellne E. Gast | Airai State – Planning Commission |
| Edith Elbelau | Ngarchelong | Ngirbachat Arsenio | Koror State |
| Elchung Hideyos | Palau Community College – CRE | Noel Ngiratmab | Ngeremlengui State |
| Eleanor Manor | BANGO | Paul Lakobong | Ngiwal State |
| Faustina Rehuher-Marugg | Palau Resource Institute | Rose Ongalibang | Palau Livestock Association / Bungelkelau |
| Felix Sengebau | Palau Community College – CRE | Seth Techitong | Individual Farmer – Ngatpang |
| Goran Vanoosterweyck | Division of Livestock, Bureau of Agriculture, MAFE | Stella Patris | Sonsorol State |
| Huana Nestor | Hatohobei | Stephanie Minor | Volunteer |
| Iseko Willyander | Ebiil Society, Ngarchelong | Tanya O. Rengulbai | BANGO / Debedebokel NGO |
| Jodean Remengesau | Bureau of Agriculture, MAFE | Toluk Sakaziro | Ngardmau State |
| Kelly Ngirturong | BANGO | Toyomi Chokai | Belau Modekngei School, Ngatpang |
| Keraskes Masaharu | BANGO | Uong Yalap | Palau Resource Institute |
| Leonard Basilius | Palau Organic Growers Association | Vivien N. Protine | Palau Chamber of Commerce |
| Lisa Hideos | Ngaraard | Yvonne Ueda | The Nature Conservancy (TNC) |
See attached photo
Media Contact for further information:
Ilebrang U. Olkeriil
Palau Consultant – Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Email: ilebrang.olkeriil@fao.org Cellphone: 775-1279